Every pet owner is curious in the best ways to maintain a cat’s health. Particularly new cat owners are very interested in the demands of cats and the overall quality of a cat’s life since they don’t yet know how to. That is very normal, and it is expected that you are concerned if there are any health issues.
How Regularly Do You Take Your Cat to the Vet? Depending on Age
The age and general health of the cat will help you determine how much is enough, but in order for you to keep track of it, we have provided some general suggestions based on age for how frequently you should take a cat to the vet.
Infant kittens
If you are fortunate enough to own a kitten or kittens, you will have your cat for the duration of her life. Now is the time to make an appointment as soon as possible because the results of this initial examination by the veterinarian will help you decide how to care for your cat moving forward.
A knowledgeable veterinarian can advise that you take your kitten every month until it is about 5 months old if your cat is actually young and up to 4 months old.
The kitten should receive checkups once every three to four weeks for the first 16 weeks of its life so the veterinarian can perform a head-to-tail physical examination checking on general health (listen to the kitten’s lung and heart, check their skin, mouth, ears, and eyes, check their abdomen, look for congenital abnormalities, and check the kitten’s growth). Your veterinarian will probably also offer you socializing tips.
Your little kitty companion will receive a series of immunizations at those veterinary visits to protect her from infectious infections and illnesses that can be fatal. According to your kitten’s lifestyle, your veterinarian will advise you on the ideal vaccination plan.
The vet will check the stool samples at each appointment to ensure that your kitten is free of intestinal parasites. It is crucial that you always bring a fresh quarter-sized stool sample. The veterinarian may deworm your kitten twice in two to three weeks due to the prevalence of parasites in young kittens.
Older cats
Every six months after your kitten grows up, you should take her to the vet for a checkup. Those examinations often include of examinations, immunizations, and dental cleanings.
Regardless of whether your cat lives indoors or outdoors, she will require distemper and rabies vaccinations, which typically last for around 3 years. However, don’t worry too much; your veterinarian can always evaluate their immunity levels to determine the best course of action.
Adult cats should see the vet twice a year, with one appointment set aside for a thorough medical examination, stool sample collection for parasite testing, and booster vaccinations. The veterinarian should be able to advise you on the best vaccinations for your pet.
Because wellness exams are performed annually on all adult cats, they are always advised. This is fantastic since it gives cat owners complete access to a pet’s medical history. These tests will identify any ailments, and the veterinarian can then take action by treating the problem and making a diagnosis as a result. It is always preferable to identify health problems as soon as possible before it is too late.
Your older cat will be weighed at this appointment with the doctor to see how much progress she has made, and the condition of her body will be assessed overall. If your cat is overweight, the vet will likely recommend activity and food changes to you.
The veterinarian will also examine your cat’s mouth for indications of gingivitis, plaque, crown pathology, and tartar. Cats older than six suffer periodontal problems in more than 70% of cases. If that is determined to be the case, anesthesia-induced dental cleaning and evaluation are advised.
Throughout the year, you should practice tick, flea, and heartworm prevention if your cat goes outside to burn off some extra energy. You should take your cat to the vet more frequently so that frequent bloodwork may be performed if she is taking long-term drugs for some reason.
Regardless of how frequently you visit the vet, you must go if there are any visible health problems. Early disease detection is always preferable in order to properly treat the condition without suffering any negative effects and ensure both your cat and you live long and happy lives.
Senior cats
Cats that are seven years of age or older are considered to be elderly. In addition to those initial check-ups, the vet will likely advise that you take your elder cat up to three times per year.
The frequency of vet visits should increase after the age of 10, as older cats are more likely to develop obesity, arthritis, liver, and kidney issues.
A physical examination is necessary because the likelihood of finding a health problem at this age increases with cat age. Because cats are excellent at masking discomfort, it can be difficult to tell if they are having problems simply by looking at them; this is why planning those visits is crucial.
Regardless of how healthy they appear, older pets typically undergo tests such as CBC, urine, and thyroid and chemistry bloodwork. Early detection of this is crucial since it will increase the cat’s quality of life and extend its life.
Examine your cat’s motion before the appointment with the vet, paying attention to how it moves when it walks, gets up from a favorite daytime nap, climbs, jumps, and uses the litter box. Discuss everything you saw with your veterinarian. Your cat could need pharmaceutical or nutraceutical solutions to relieve the pain and improve the quality of life if they exhibit stiffness or unwillingness to leap. If the joints are the issue, your cat will benefit greatly from a massage and a therapy laser.
Naturally, immunizations will be administered in accordance with the schedule your veterinarian established. At this age, it’s also crucial to get regular dental cleanings because dental disease may be extremely unpleasant and hazardous.
When Should You Take Your Cat Right Away To The Vet?
Prevention is always preferable to cure. You should therefore conduct more wellness exams because only then will you be able to identify persistent problems. An wonderful technique to determine whether your cat is healthy is to consult an experienced internet veterinarian.
In general, schedule the appointment as soon as you discover that your cat is not feeling well or if you observe anything strange or unusual because you are likely assisting your cat before any serious problems arise.
For instance, despite annual checkups, you should send your cat to the vet immediately away if she is limping, vomiting, bleeding, losing appetite, having uncontrollable diarrhea, or eating something toxic or inedible.
